Sand bed advice needed

[Reefer Wannabe]

Hi all. I need some advice from you experienced reefers out there--especially those that have done a tank move.
I just bought Reggae Fish's 120, and I am probably doing the switchover from my 90 within the next few days. The only big decision left to make is what to do with the sand. Should I:

A: Move all the sand to the new tank (this would change the current 2-3" sand bed to a more desirable 1-2" sand bed.) I know that junk can get stirred up by doing this, but I was very successful when I moved from my 55 to my 90 a couple years ago doing this by carefully using a 1/2 frisbee to scoop big chunks (from bottom to top) and didn't stir much up.

By the way, the sand is Southdown and several years old, but very live.

B: Do a 1/2 and 1/2 -- keep 1/2 my old (top half) and get about 25 pounds of new stuff.

C: Get 40 pounds of new stuff and use just a a couple of pounds of my old sand to seed it.

Right now, I'm leaning toward option A because I think I can move it without disturbing it too much, but I'm a bit torn. Also if anyone has seen a thread with expert advice on this subject, could you point me in the right direction? I've searched but haven't found a lot.

TIA

Tom

[Schplitter]

FWIW I have mine in a bucket right now and am thinking about leaving it out of the tank for good.

BK

[Fade]

I would do c in the big picture sand is cheap and no sense in creating problems for yourself.

[Letmegrow]

If your sump is like 200g go with A, it will handle the mucky stirred up bio load.

I like option C the best like my buddy the maid.
I would throw some of your old sand in the sump as well to maintain biodiv.

ALSO New sand always looks so much better.

[breutus]

C completly, to many risk when disturbing that much sand better off not taking the chances and only putting a little back in

[michealprater]

I choose option D.

Keep a small amount of the sand bed in a bucket, then rinse the rest of the sand thoroughly, and put it in the tank, and see it with the sand you put to the side.

[Reefer Wannabe]

OK--thanks guys. I'm going with option C. Michael--"D" isn't an option for me because I'm trying to do a quick changeover, so I won't really have time to rinse the sand real well, then rerinse it with RO/DI, etc.

Next Question--thoughts on a Deep Sand Bed in the fuge in my sump?

[breutus]

Originally posted by Reefer Wannabe


Next Question--thoughts on a Deep Sand Bed in the fuge in my sump?

honestly I have one and have highly considered taking it out. now mines not very big it's only a 30g sump but I feel it does very little and it traps a lot of detritus and crap that is very hard to get out of it. so in the long run it seems to be doing less good then bad

[michealprater]

I am going to do a RDSB on mine, you may want to look into that, it does not trap any detritus because of its design.

[zt444a]

You will have a small to a large cycle if you do anything other than C. I gotta agree with Fade and Steveo.... just seed and use new.

[Letmegrow]

What size is the fuge ?

I vote no/it wont make a difference.

A DSB really only works if you have a good sized foot print.
Which is why Remote DSB don't really do much except culture anoxic bacteria.

[michealprater]

Originally posted by Letmegrow
What size is the fuge ?

I vote no/it wont make a difference.

A DSB really only works if you have a good sized foot print.
Which is why Remote DSB don't really do much except culture anoxic bacteria.

I am thinking of filling up a 40 breeder or 55 gallon to get the footprint.

RDSB have been put on tanks and corrected nitrate problems, but no need to argue you, it will go on for days. . I made my decition based off Anthony Calfo's research. But no matter what, it is simply a matter of opinion at this point.

[Letmegrow]

Why add all the extra plumbing and bs ?

Use a sulfur reactor you'll get the added benefit of calcium supplementation and you don't have to add 40 or 55 more gallons of water to your system that wont really be utilized anyway.

You would have to change out about 50 extra gallons a month, to where smart reconditioning of your minerals could save you a lot of $$$ in salt mix and all that RO you have to make for the topping off every day from evap and the RO to make new water with.

RDSB are a good idea in theory, but very impractical.
If you are going to be doing something for the sake of doing something, try a 55g cryptic zone, completely seal the tank from light, you could even add your DSB if you want. You will get some pretty neat things growing in there. Most of them will grow in the plumbing too and you have to check often for clogs.

[Letmegrow]

OH ! btw the best way to correct a nitrate problem is at it's source.

If you have nitrates say from over feeding you will still have the phosphate to deal with and then the detritus to deal with.

Why skin a cat five different ways when you can kill two birds with one stone ? Why would you kill animals at all ?

[Reefer Wannabe]

I will kill five cats with one stone and not do a DSB. I don't have enough sand anyway.

BTW, I got some Fiji Pink Aragonite and am officially going Option C.

I'm in the midst of stage one of switchover now. I pulled out 3/4 of my rock, drilled 1/2 of that so I can make pillars, and have all that rock in a stock tank (Thanks John and BK). Tomorrow I get everything else out, move the old tank out and the new tank in it's place and go from there. I'll post some pics when I can.

[michealprater]

Letmegrow, you left out the "IMO".

like I said this debate could go on for days. What works for some, doesnt always work for others. IMO. Reefer Wannabe asked for advice, I gave him mine. He did not take it. No big deal. I just go with what has worked for me in the past. I am a new member, but not a newb.

Anyway, debate is good for the hobby, and good for the forum.

[Letmegrow]

Everything I say is my opinion.

[Reefer Wannabe]

Oh, and by the way gentlemen, thank you for the advice.

I too have read lots of info on remote DSB's (specifically, the DSB in a bucket) and from what I read, the evidence seemed to point to the fact that they DO work. I just needed to make a quick decision as to whether or not I should add 4" of sand to one of the sections of my sump or not to try to gain benefits from a DSB. Lack of sand and a few questions about how beneficial it would actually be (not to mention that I have not seen this sump in action yet and have no idea what the flow will be like) led me to make say no DSB in the fuge.

[Reefer Wannabe]

Originally posted by Letmegrow
Everything I say is my opinion.

Is that a fact?

[michealprater]

Ya reefer, I understand you change over has to be fairly swift so that makes sense. Nice thing about a RSDB is you can always add one later, and if you dont like it, take it off and throw it away.